Impromptu Dinner

We had some errands to run late in the afternoon today and ended up in the Brotteaux area where that beautiful old train station is. We wanted to grab a quick drink somewhere and we ended up having drinks and dinner in one of Paul Bocuse's restaurants L'Est, which is in the old train station.

I counted at least 8 toques in that kitchen.

I had the tomato salad with feta, onion and avocado in a tangy dressing. Great.

Also great: rotisserie chicken in a succulent sauce and sides of Italian green beans and pasta. The pasta was really a baked macaroni and cheese that was fantastic. This is one of five of Bocuse's brasseries located in Lyon, the other four are l'Ouest, le Sud, le Nord and Argenson. I will probably never darken the doors of the Bocuse restaurant l'Auberge du Pont de Collognes, so it's nice that the brasseries are an option as they are more accessible and affordable. The service in l'Est brasserie was attentive and friendly, the atmosphere was casual and inviting and, most importantly, the food was exceptional.

Dessert: fresh white cheese (fromage blanc) with apple compote and raspberry coulis.

Since l'Est is in the old Brotteaux train station, the walls are decorated with clocks that show the times in places all around the world, there is an electric train that circles a track around the restaurant and there are signs hanging from the track noting milestones and important lines in train transportation.